Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2007
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2007 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Joelene Mackey

HAYWARD NEEDS TO BE SEEN AS VICTIM OF BRUTAL MURDER

My problem with the argument that Kim Walker was justifi ed in 
murdering James Hayward to save his daughter from a life of drugs, is 
this. Where is Hayward's saviour? If we can look at Jadah Walker as a 
troubled individual in need of rescue from the drug scene, why can't 
we see Hayward in the same light? Now that he has been brutally 
killed, we cannot even see him as a murder victim.

We continue to paint him with hostile labels such as "drug dealer." 
Victim is the one that actually was relevant to Walker's trial.

Hayward hasn't been taken into account here anywhere. There was no 
opportunity for his own loving family to play "hero" in his life, 
because Walker shot him to death before they could intervene to help 
him recover from his addiction. Media now want the justice system to 
turn a blind eye to his murder because he was involved with drugs.

If you want to change the system so that the police have more clout 
with drug dealers, that's great. I'm on board. But does that mean we 
should change the justice system so that we are more lenient on 
murderers? I think that is a deadly trade off.

Joelene Mackey

Saskatoon
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